Master 2019/2020

Project Seminar

Type: Compulsory course (Politics. Economics. Philosophy)

Area of studies: Political Science

Delivered by: School of Politics and Governance

Where: Faculty of Social Sciences

When: 1 year, 2, 3 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Alisa Shishkina

Master’s programme: Политика. Экономика. Философия

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 28

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course intends to familiarize students with the study and practical mastering of ways of methodological approximation of qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis in modern political science. It is designed as a review of theoretical foundations followed by a practical component in the form of preparation of group projects and presentations by students. The practical part of the course is based on qualitative and quantitative content analysis strategies, as well as a method of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), which involves establishing a connection between a set of conditions and a set of results (responses) of certain processes. This allows one to correlate the impact of various factors (socio-political background, conditions, remote and immediate causes, triggers, etc.) on various political events, in particular protest actions, anti-government demonstrations, etc.

Learning Objectives

• The goal of the project is to gain experience in selecting the appropriate strategy and design for the analysis, as well as the skills of applying qualitative and quantitative content analysis strategies and the method of qualitative comparative analysis in modern political science. The course also aims at aquainting students with main theories and practical applicability of alternative qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis and advancing their skills of research design, project work and presentation.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Participation in the course will help students to: achieve the ability to choose a strategy suitable for a particular research;

Course Contents

• Basics of academic writing in empirical research projects
  The choice of purpose, audience and style of academic paper. Main semantic blocks of the text, the logic and coherence of the study. Research designs. Building an academic text: research question, the novelty of the study, hypotheses, literature review models, the rationale for the choice of methods, variables, the chronological framework of the study, interpretation of the results, etc. References. Citation styles. Journals’ guidelines. Presentation skills.

Assessment Elements

• Presentation of project work, paper
  The examination is carried out orally (presentation of the project based on the results of project work). The exam is conducted on the Microsoft Teams platform. Students need to connect to the exam according to the sequence of presentations sent by the lecturer to students' corporate mail on the eve of the exam. The student's computer must meet the requirements: a working camera and microphone, support for Microsoft Teams. To participate in the exam, the student is obliged: to put his photo on the avatar, to appear for the exam according to the exact schedule, and when answering, turn on the camera and microphone. During the exam, students are prohibited from turning off the camera. A short-term communication disruption during the exam is considered a communication disruption of less than a minute. Long-term communication disruption during the exam is considered a violation of a minute or more. In case of a long-term communication disruption, the student cannot continue to participate in the exam. The retake procedure involves the use of complicated tasks.
• activity at seminars
  The examination is carried out orally (presentation of the project based on the results of project work). The exam is conducted on the Microsoft Teams platform. You need to connect to the exam according to the sequence of presentations sent by the teacher to students' corporate mail on the eve of the exam. The student's computer must meet the requirements: a working camera and microphone, support for Microsoft Teams. To participate in the exam, the student is obliged: to put his photo on the avatar, to appear for the exam according to the exact schedule, and when you answer, turn on the camera and microphone. During the exam, students are prohibited from: turning off the camera. A short-term communication disruption during the exam is considered a communication disruption of less than a minute. Long-term communication disruption during the exam is considered a violation of a minute or more. In case of a long-term communication disruption, the student cannot continue to participate in the exam. The retake procedure involves the use of complicated tasks.

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (3 module)
  Project work (mid-term evaluation) is 40% of total grade

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Creswell, J. W. . (DE-588)133331512, (DE-576)164944168. (1994). Research design : qualitative and quantitative approaches / John W. Creswell. Thousand Oaks, Calif. [u.a.]: Sage. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.040749258
• Sword, H. (2012). Stylish Academic Writing. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=464125

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design : Choosing Among Five Traditions. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications Inc. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=63251
• Creswell, J. W. (2014). Educational Research: Pearson New International Edition : Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research (Vol. Fourth edition, Pearson new international edition). Harlow, Essex: Pearson. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1418055